​Undoubtedly, 2022 marked a historic year for weddings as the anticipated wedding boom unfolded, hosting countless celebrations worldwide. Following two years of scaled-down or postponed nuptials, weddings made a resounding comeback, brimming with intentionality and personalization.

This spirit of breaking away from convention and infusing personal touches continues to shape wedding trends in 2023. Brides (and grooms) are revolutionizing weddings, thinking beyond traditional boundaries to create a wedding day that is truly unique to them. These personal touches bring the couple's values to life, making the experience more meaningful.

The definition of personalization varies for each couple. For some, it may manifest as a commitment to sustainability, such as eschewing single-use items at their wedding reception. Other couples, especially those in the food industry, may seek to incorporate their wedding intentions by hiring a restaurant chef and serving a five-course meal with an open kitchen. 

The possibilities are endless. Our dedication lies in discovering these meaningful aspects for each couple and ensuring they become prominent features of their wedding, rendering it personalized and purposeful.

In 2023, couples will persist in making their weddings truly their own, resulting in a noticeable departure from the conventional wedding look and atmosphere. 

Many observe that large wedding parties are becoming less common, and traditions like the bouquet toss are being phased out. We predict a rise in the anti-bride trend—a less-is-more approach to the day that allows the couple to take center stage. Smaller, intimate, and intentional wedding days featuring non-traditional settings and attire will be prominent.

Some industry insiders suggest that trends, as a whole, will have less impact on the industry. Instead, the focus will be on what weddings are truly about—the couple themselves and the experience they provide for their guests. "On a day that revolves around the couple, clients prioritize ensuring that their guests have an absolutely incredible time. We witness couples warmly and hospitably prioritizing the guest experience, regardless of whether they are hosting 50 or 500 guests."

One thing most wedding industry experts agree on is that 2023 will be filled with multi-day destination events. "After feeling restricted for the past few years, there is now a surge in inquiries for destination weddings. Couples are eager to explore the world and bring their guests along! Clients are enthusiastic about venue and hotel buyouts, ensuring that guests are together throughout the wedding celebration and enjoy multiple days of events." Planners are noticing smaller guest counts for these destination events, accompanied by a greater emphasis on additional activities beyond the ceremony and reception. Many couples seek to extend the wedding experience beyond the typical Friday-to-Sunday timeframe, creating a sense of community that lasts for an entire week.

As 2023 unfolds, we anticipate witnessing weddings that defy expectations. Couples, supported by exceptional vendors, will blaze their own trails and curate celebrations that authentically reflect their personalities, style, and love.

Le Pavillon stands as the premier reception venue in Lafayette LA, providing an exquisite setting for weddings, receptions, corporate events, and more. Nestled conveniently in Parc Lafayette, it neighbors the Hilton Home 2 Suites and enjoys proximity to various stores and eateries. Our meeting space showcases magnificent French architecture, featuring three stunning event rooms adorned with elegant antique décor. Whether you are organizing a small-scale meeting for 20 or a grand Mardi Gras ball for 600, Le Pavillon guarantees to surpass your expectations.
 
At Le Pavillon, we present four elegant solutions to accommodate your special event. The Grand Ballroom serves as the ideal choice for larger engagements, while the Lafayette and Acadiana Rooms provide an intimate ambiance for smaller gatherings. For events that lend themselves better to the outdoors, we offer The Colonnade. Additionally, we have La Chambre, which serves as Le Pavillon's Bridal Suite and is well suited for intimate parties and meeting spaces. Our private event venue caters to parties ranging from 25 to 1200, ensuring we can meet your specific needs.

TAGS:

​Summer brings heat and thirst and many gathered at event centers and reception venues will be craving refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Tried and true summertime drinks can quench cravings and make impressions when served with popular modern twists.
​
Lemonade is the most requested summertime drink. Easy to make and being refreshing to boot are just two of the reasons to mix up a pitcher of fresh, homemade lemonade.

To make lemonade you will need two cups of lemon juice. If you are squeezing your own, you will need 12-15 lemons. Make a simple syrup by taking one cup water and one cup white sugar and heating it in a pot over medium-high heat until the sugar melts and you have clear, lump-free liquid. Stir in the two cups lemon juice. This combination is a concentrate that you can store in the freezer or refrigerator. Make lemonade by the glass or pitcher by simply adding water to taste to the concentrate.

For a healthier lemonade, substitute local honey for the white sugar. Use the same proportions and directions and you have a drink that also helps build your immunities to local allergens.

Fruit lemonade variations are always popular choices for thirsty people. Make strawberry, blueberry, or raspberry lemonade simply by adding fresh fruit either wholes or pureed.

Iced Tea is a southern summer staple. Southern sweet tea is a traditional way to enjoy this standby or for a twist try Sunshine State Tea. This is tea with that has Florida Orange slices and a splash of juice added. Mint leaves are another refreshing choice to add to iced tea. A popular choice for children is to make Keep the Doctor Away Tea. This is half iced tea and half apple juice.

To stay hydrated, water is the best go-to beverage. To dress water up, infuse with cucumbers, mint, lemon, peaches, ginger, strawberries, and limes. Any seasonal fruit can add flavor and color to a refreshing glass of ice water. For a variation and to add sparkle, use seltzer water.

Sherbet punches are popular party choices and can be made with just two ingredients. Take a gallon of orange sherbet and place in a punch bowl. Add a chilled two-liter bottle of pineapple soda and you have a two-ingredient punch that is colorful and delicious. Raspberry sherbet mixes well with lemon-lime soda and lemon sherbet with fruit punch soda makes a tasty choice too.

For a punch with a few more flavors, try this lime sherbet-based delight: Chill a can of pineapple juice and a can of apple juice that is the same size as the pineapple juice. Mix the two together in a punch bowl. Add a half-gallon of lime sherbet. To that add 8-12 ounces of lemon-lime soda. Stir and enjoy. As the sherbet melts the punch becomes frothy.

Don’t want to mix your own drinks but want a delicious treat. Head to Borden’s for an old-fashioned ice cream soda or float. It’s a Lafayette landmark.

Another venue in Lafayette destined to become a landmark is Le Pavilion. This event center and wedding venue can be seen by appointment calling 337-371-1076 or email [email protected].

TAGS:

​Late spring is the ideal time to shine a light on your student’s exceptional academic, athletic, and artistic achievements. Recognizing those achievements at an awards banquet not only provides student recognition but creates motivation for your students to keep up the excellent work for the next school year. If this is your first year planning and finding an awards banquet hall, fear not, we have created a ten steps guide to help you plan.

1. Establish your budget. Your budget will help determine where you can hold your awards banquet, the menu, décor, type of awards, and invitations. If you plan ahead, you can consider approaching local businesses to help sponsor your event; in return, you can mention them in your awards program.

2. Determine the date of your awards banquet. Make sure your dinner or lunch doesn’t conflict with school or athletic commitments. Consult with your school’s various committees, to avoid overlapping dates.

3. Choose an awards banquet venue. First on your list should be your awards banquet venue. If your school gymnasium or cafeteria is the location of choice, parking should not be an issue. If you choose an offsite location, make sure the venue can meet the parking needs of your students and their families. If you have your heart set on a specific venue, call early to reserve your date. Most banquet venues book well in advance; you will want to call as early as possible to reserve your date.

4. Choose a menu. Your budget ultimately determines your menu, and how formal or casual the awards banquet will be. Banquet venues often have multiple catering services you can use. If your banquet is held onsite at your school, you will probably need to hire a catering service. Regardless of the venue location, don’t forget to include a vegan option for those who do not eat meat.

5. Send out invitations. This vital detail will include RSVPs and will help you gauge how many students and guests will be attending. Knowing the number of guests determines how many tables, dinners, and possibly awards you need to order. Invitations are invaluable and can be as casual or formal as budget allows.

6. Seating arrangement. Create a visual seating arrangement, assigning students with their parents or guest, and staff to tables can help you stay organized. A seating assignment can also avoid chaos, including students wanting to sit near their friends.

7. Planning the program. The awards banquet program is a simple outline with the sole purpose of creating an organized timeline for your planning committee. It can also serve as a formal printed program. Printed programs are great keepsakes of the evening. A few essential details to consider are mentioning keynote speakers, presenters, the order of the awards, sponsor ads, and possibly how long each presentation will be. Including a program also allows the guest to break away if necessary, without missing their loved one’s award acceptance.

8. Ordering your awards. The type of award you present can vary greatly depending on your budget. Awards can range from traditional trophies and ribbons to medallions, certificates, pins, gift cards, electronics, and more. Be sure to order awards at least a month in advance–especially if you are ordering custom awards.

9. Plan and order decorations. An often-overlooked detail is the décor. Most award banquet venues only provide the landscape, think tables and chairs. Decorations, such as table covers, table skirts, and centerpieces are probably your responsibility, ask the venue if these are included or if you need to arrange for these. You might want to consider a photo station with a logo backdrop, dramatic balloon arches or other creative decor.

10. Create an awards banquet schedule. Give yourself and assistants time to decorate, test the sound system, arrange tables, speak with the caterers and wait staff, arrange awards in order of presentation, and other last-minute details that are sure to arise.
​
Need help finding your awards banquet hall in Lafayette Louisiana ? Consider calling Le Pavillon and allow Hannah and her team to take the stress of finding a venue and planning your awards banquet.

TAGS: